Rhino census in Bengal’s Gorumara National Park

Kolkata, March 11: A two day census will be carried out, from Wednesday, in Gorumara National Park in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district to assess the population of the vulnerable one horned rhino and monitor changes in its habitat.

“The focus of the two-day exercise will be on direct sightings of animal in about 110 sq km area of the reserve forest to determine their population and changes in habitat among other things,” said Divisional Forest Officer (Jalpaiguri) Sumita Ghatak.

She asserted that since the last census in 2012, no report of death of the animal – listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – has been reported.

“According to the last census, there were 43 rhinos here in the national park including 14 adult male and 11 females, the others being sub adult and calves. We hope the number has risen,” said Ghatak.

Besides the Gorumara, the district is also home to the Jaldapara National Park, which – with a population of about 180 rhinoceros – is the largest habitat in the state.

As per the last census, the Jaldapara National Park is the second-largest habitat of the one-horned rhinoceros in the country after Kaziranga National Park in Assam.